Rolling contact stencil cutting machine with hinged body parts



Jul 11, 1967 J. A. WEBER JR 3,330,395

ROLLING CONTACT STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE WITH HINGED BODY PARTS FiledSept. 29, 1964 4 SheetsSheet 1 July 11, 1967 J. A. WEBER, JR 3,330,395

ROLLING CONTACT STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE WITH HINGED BODY PARTS FiledSept. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jill/62215071 7552 015 J5? 71 July 11,1967 J. A. WEBER. JR

ROLLING CONTACT STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE WITH HINGED BODY PARTS FiledSept. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-She9t I 3 July 11, 1967 J. A. WEBER, JR3,330,395

CIL CUTTING MACHINE WITH HINGED BODY PARTS ROLLING CONTACT STEN m J s A9 l 9 2 .L govt S Q q 1 1 F I United States Patent 3,330,395 ROLLINGCDNTACT STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE WITH HTNGED BODY PARTS Joseph A. Weber,Jr., Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Weber Marking Systems, Inc., acorporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 499,255 Claims.(Cl. 1976.4)

This invention relates to a new and improved stencil cutting machine.

The cutting of stencils of the type wherein a coating material isremoved has ordinarily been accomplished by a typewriter or by amanually operable stencil cutting stylus. Both of these cutting devicesproduce only thin lined letters or figures. The present machine is agreat step forward in the industry of stencil cutting and contemplatesthe removal of greater areas of the stencil coating by a machine withoutdamaging the base fibers of the stencil sheet.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novelstencil cutting machine in which easy access may be had to the typecharacters used in the cutting of the stencil.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a novelstencil cutting machine having a main Supporting frame and an auxiliaryframe hingedly mounted on the main frame so that movable type characterscarried in the auxiliary frame can be moved to and from a position insuperposed position over a stencil receiving table carried on the mainframe.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a stencilcutting machine with a main frame having a novel stencil receiving tablethereon and means for exerting substantial pressures across an aperturein the table for cooperation with movable type elements carried in ahingedly mounted auxiliary frame.

Other and further important objects and advantages will be apparent fromthe disclosures in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the stencil cutting machine ofthis invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stencil cutting machine ofFIGURE 1 with the auxiliary frame swung away from its superposedposition over the main frame as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal front to back sectional view taken throughthe stencil cutting machine of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the device as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the stencil cutting machine ofthis invention opposite to that shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the stencil cutting machine as shown inFIGURE 2 with the auxiliary frame in an outwardly swung position.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a main frame or supportingstructure which is preferably made as a metal casting. The frame 10 issubstantially hollow in order to minimize the weight of the machine andto provide for a housing for the operating parts of the stencil cuttingmachine. The main frame 10 is provided with spaced apart front feet ortable engaging pads 11 and 11a. Similarly the supporting structure 10 isprovided with spaced apart rear feet or table engaging pads 12 and 120so that the main frame is supported in a stable manner to permit thecutting of stencils thereon. The main frame 10 is provided with upperside edges 13 which act to receive a generally fiat horizontallydisposed stencil receiving table 14. It is on this table that thestencil to be cut is placed.

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The table 14 is arranged and constructed to be incrementally adjustedlongitudinally relative to the top 13 of the supporting structure 10. Anaperture 14a is provided in a generally central portion of the table 14for the purpose of permitting the application of Substantial pressuresupwardly through the table to engage the stencil and thereupon effect acutting thereof by reason of the stencil engaging type characters. Thetype characters will subsequently be described and shown to be arrangedand positioned above the table aperture. The longitudinal incrementalmovement of the table 14 thus provides for the line spacing of thestencil as it is being cut with various indicia.

A stencil clamping means 15 is mounted on the forward edge of the table14 and is arranged and constructed to have transverse sliding movementtherealong. The stencil clamping elements are shown at 15a and 1512. Anedge of a stencil to be cut is placed between the gripping members 15aand 1512 while the body portion of the stencil is adapted to extendrearwardly over the table 14. The clamping member 15 is arranged to beincrementally moved along the forward edge of the table 14 to thereuponobtain proper letter spacing for the stencil indicia.

The main frame or supporting structure 10 is provided with spaced aparthinge ears 16 and 16a which project generally upwardly at the rearthereof. A hinge pin 17 is disposed generally transversely of the mainframe 10 and passes through aligned apertures in the spaced apart hingeears 16 and 16a. An auxiliary frame or supporting structure 13 isarranged and constructd to be hingedly mounted relative to the mainframe It in such a manner that the auxiliary frame may be positioned ina superposed position over the main frame as shown in FIG- URES 1, 3, 4and 5 or in an outwardly swung position such as shown in FIGURES 2 and6. The auxiliary frame is provided with spaced apart rearwardlyprojecting ears 18a and 18b which are joined by a cross member at theirouter ends. The spaced apart ears 18a and 18b are provided with alignedapertures to permit the passage therethrough of the hinge pin 17 such asparticularly shown in FIGURE 6. The ears 18a and 18b are adapted to liebetween and in generally closely abutting relationship to the inneredges of the spaced apart ears 16 and 16a respectively which form a partof the base main frame 10. Thus the auxiliary frame 18 is hingedlymounted relative to the main frame 10 about the hinge pin 17 so that aspreviously stated the auxiliary frame may be disposed in either aposition where it is in close superposition relative to the main frameor outwardly swung away from its position over the stencil receivingtable on the main frame.

The auxiliary frame is adapted to carry a disc 19 on its underside. Theouter periphery of the disc has embossed type characters 20 thereon suchas shown in FF- URES 3 and 6. A hand engaging knob 21 is provided at thetop of the auxiliary frame 18 and by means of a set screw or pin 22 isadapted to be afiixed to a generally vertically disposed spindle 23 onwhich the disc 1% is mounted for concurrent rotation. The spindle 23 isjournally supported within a generally vertically disposed and elongatedbushing 18d of the auxiliary frame 18. Thus the type carrying disc 19may be manually rotated by an engagement of the hand knob 21 tothereupon place any one of the type characters 20 in proper position toact as the means for cutting or removing the stencil coating in thismachine. A generally centrally disposed block 18s is bolted to theauxiliary frame 18 as shown at 18 at the front center position of theauxiliary frame. It is beneath this block 18e that the selected typecharacter 2% on the disc 19 must be placed in order to effect a stencilcutting in this machine.

The main frame 10 is provided with generally cylindrically shaped bosses24 and 24a formed on both sides thereof as shown in FIGURE 6. Thesesleeve-like bosses are internally threaded. The auxiliary frame 18 isprovided with similarly transversely spaced apart bosses 25 and 25awhich are each provided with apertures arranged and constructed to liein axial alignment with the internally threaded holes in the sleeves 24and 24:! on the main frame when the auxiliary frame is in superposedposition over the stencil receiving table 14 of the main frame. Capscrews 26 and 26a are employed to pass through the apertures in theWing-like bosses 25 and 25a of the auxiliary frame 18 for threadedengagement with the internal threads in the sleeve-like bosses 24 and24a of the main frame to thereupon rigidly hold the auxiliary frame infixed position relative to the main frame as it is shown in FIGURES 1,3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. When it is desired to gain access to thetype carrying disc 19 for replacement or servicing or to gain more readyaccess to the operating mechanisms of the device to be subsequentlydescribed, the cap screws 26 and 26a are removed and the auxiliary frame18 swung upwardly and rearwardly such as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6. Inthis open position it is obvious that the movable type carryingmechanism may be entirely removed and replaced with different sizes orstyles of type or may be merely cleaned or serviced as necessary. Whenthe machine is again to be used in its stencil cutting function theauxiliary frame is swung downwardly about its hinge 17 and the capscrews 26 and 26a replaced. In this closed position the stencil may becut. The cutting operation utilizes a back-up block or plate 18a tocontain the pressure which is utilized to impress the stencil againstthe particular type character 20 to be cut in the stencil.

The device of this invention is operated by a lever 27 ,7 having a handengaging knob or handle 28 such as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. The lever27 is bent at right angles as shown in FIGURE 6 so that its right angleextension indicated by the numeral 29 constitutes a shaft which isjournally supported in bushings 29a and 12% mounted respectively in thespaced apart ears 16 and 16a of the main frame at a position spacedforwardly of the hinge pin 17 and generally near the bottom of the mainframe. Adjustable collars 290 are arranged on the shaft 29 to flank bothsides of the wall member 16 whereby the shaft may be accurately adjustedwithin the frame.

As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 the shaft 29 has mounted thereon alever 30 which in a non-actuating position is as shown in full lines inFIGURE 3. When the hand lever 27-28 is pulled forwardly toward thestencil receiving table 14 the lever arm 30 is rocked to a position asshown in dashed lines in FIGURE 3 by reason of rotation of the shaft 29.A link means 31 comprises spaced apart arm members 31a and 31b which arefastened by means of a cross pin 32 to the upper end of the lever arm30. This link means 31 extends forwardly within the base housing 10 forultimate connection to a pressure urging roller mechanism 33. The rollermechanism 33 includes an outer race member 33a, a plurality ofanti-friction ball members 33b and an inner race or hub 330 as bestshown in FIGURE 6. The hub 33c is substantially wider than the outerrace 33a and the extensions formed on both sides of the centrallylocated roller are utilized to cooperate with a cammed surface to causea raising of the roller mechanism 33 for the purpose of applyingpressures through the aperture 14:: in the stencil receiving table 14 tocause stencil cutting in a manner to be subsequently described. The linkmembers 31a and 31b are bent or flared outwardly intermediate their endsas shown at 31c and their forward ends 31d flank the outer sides of thehub 33c. A rivet or pin means 34 fastens the link arms 31a and 31b tothe hub 330. A rocking movement of the lever arm 31) from its full lineposition to the dashed line position as shown in FIGURE 3 will cause theroller mechanism 33 to move forwardly in the device of this invention.

The cam mechanism constitutes a generally U-shaped block member 35 withspaced apart track or rail members 35a and 35b. The rearward ends of therails 35a and 35b have their top surfaces 35c inclined upwardly andforwardly whereupon the top surfaces are generally horizontally disposedas shown at 35d at their outer forward ends. It is upon these track-likesurfaces 35a and 35b that the laterally extending hub portions 330 ofthe roller means 33 ride to cause the roller means through its outerrace 33a to exert substantial pressures upwardly through the aperture14a in the stencil holding table 14. The generally U-shaped block 35with a base 35e is confined by longitudinally spaced apart bosses 36 and37 which form a part of the base housing 10. A bottom plate 38 isfastened to the longitudinally spaced boss members 36 and 37 by capscrews 39 and define a space 40 within which is carried a mechanism tocause accurate vertical adjustment of the block member 35 so thatvarious thicknesses of stencil sheets may be accommodated and so thatonly the stencil coating is removed in the stencil cutting processwithout causing damage to the porous base tissue sheet of the stencil.

The chamber 40 includes a longitudinally adjustable wedge block 41 theinclined top surface of which lies against the similarly inclined lowersurface of the bottom 35a of the generally U-shaped block 35. Thesemating inclined surfaces provide the wedge adjusting means for themicrometer-like vertical positioning of the block 35. An elongated screwmember 42 is threadedly engaged to and within the wedge block 41. Asshown in FIGURE 3 the block 41 abuts the end boss 36 and thus has raisedthe block 35 its maximum distance. The block 35 may be lowered byrotating the screw 42 and causing the wedge block 41 to move forwardlyin the chamber 40 to thus permit the block 35 to drop. The adjustment ispreferably made by manually inserting a screwdriver through an aperture43 in the front skirt of the housing 10 and into a screw slot 44 in theforward end of the elongated screw 42.

In the operation of the device of this invention a stencil 45 to be cutis placed on the table 14. The clamp elements 15a and 1512 are separatedby depressing a handle of the member 15a about a hinge 15d. A spring 15eis arranged about the hinge 15d in a manner to cause the jaws 15a and15b to be urged together. An incrementally releasable ratchet mechanism46 is disposed intermediate the table 14 and the clamping member 15 suchthat the clamping member may be adjustably moved transversely of thetable 14. The stencil 45 extends beneath the block 182 of the auxiliaryframe 18 and has individual type characters 20 cut therein at thatposition. The desired letter is selected and then manually positionedbeneath the block 18e by rotation of the hand knob 21. Now the handlever 27-28 is swung forwardly causing the pressure roller to be camrnedupwardly and thence longitudinally of the opening 14a. The roller causesthe stencil sheet to be rolled against a selected letter on the disc 19with the block 18:: as the reactance member. In order that the selectedletter 20 be centered in the stencil cutting location the disc 19 islocked in position by a locking pin 47 moving into engagement in socketapertures 47a in the disc 19 thereupon prohibiting rotation of the disc19. The device is arranged to automatically lock during application ofthe stencil cutting pressures by the roller means 33. A second ratchetmeans 48 is mounted longitudinally 'of the base 10 beneath the table 14so that upon compleafter first removing the cap screws 26. This stencilcutting machine construction with the feature of the hinge joining oftwo frame parts contributes greatly to the success of the cutter.

An adjustable screw a is threadedly carried by the crank 30 and isadapted to limit the throw of the hand lever 2728. The screw 30a isarranged to engage a lug 30b formed integrally with the frame structure10. Greater or lesser arcuate movement may be accomplished by greater orlesser extensions of the end of the threaded set screw 30a.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be variedthroughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosedherein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereonotherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stencil cutter comprising a main frame, a generally horizontallydisposed stencil cutting bed on said main frame, an auxiliary frame, ahorizontally disposed hinge pin hingedly mounting said auxiliary frameon said main frame for swinging through a vertical arc, said auxiliaryframe arranged and constructed in one position thereof to lie in a fixedsuperposed position over and adjacent the bed of the main frame and inanother position thereof to be spaced from said bed, said auxiliaryframe carrying type for movement thereon, means holding a stencil onsaid main frame in a fixed relationship to the bed of said main frame,means for securely holding said auxiliary frame in said fixed superposedposition over said bed during cutting of said stencil positioned betweensaid bed on the main frame and selected type on the auxiliary frame, andmeans on the main frame supplying pressure to effect a cutting of saidstencil.

2. A stencil cutter comprising a main frame, a generally horizontallydisposed stencil cutting bed on said main frame, means on said mainframe to exert a stencil cutting pressure at the position of said bed,an auxiliary frame, a horizontally disposed hinge pin hingedly mountingsaid auxiliary frame on said main frame for swinging through a verticalare, said auxiliary frame arranged and constructed in one positionthereof to lie in a fixed superposed position over and adjacent the bedof the main frame and in another position thereof to be spaced from saidbed, said auxiliary frame journally supporting a type carrying wheel,means holding a stencil on said main frame in a fixed relationship tothe bed of said main frame, means for securely holding said auxiliaryframe in said fixed superposed position over said bed during cutting ofsaid stencil positioned between said bed and selected type on the typecarrying wheel, and means actuating said means to exert a stencilcutting pressure on the stencil against said selected type.

3. A stencil cutter comprising a main frame, a generally horizontallydisposed stencil cutting bed on said main frame, an auxiliary frame, ahorizontally disposed hinge pin hingedly mounting said auxiliary frameon said main frame and arranged and constructed in one position thereofto lie in a fixed superposed substantially parallel position over andadjacent the bed of the main frame and in another upwardly facingposition of at least 90 degrees to the bed of said main frame, saidauxiliary frame carrying type for movement thereon, means holding astencil on said main frame in a fixed relationship to the bed of saidmain frame, means for fixedly holding said auxiliary frame in saidsuperposed position over said bed during cutting of said stencilpositioned between said bed on the main frame and selected type on theauxiliary frame, means on the main frame supplying pressure to effect acutting of said stencil, and means for removing said type from saidauxiliary frame in said another position thereof.

4. A stencil cutter comprising a main frame, a generally horizontallydisposed stencil cutting 'bed on said main frame, means on said mainframe to exert a stencil cutting pressure at the position of said bed,an auxiliary frame, a horizontally disposed hinge pin hingedly mountingsaid auxiliary frame to said main frame, said auxiliary frame journallysupporting a removable type carrying disc, said auxiliary frame arrangedand constructed in one position of hinging to lie in a fixed superposedposition over and adjacent the bed of the main frame for stencil cuttingand in another position thereof to be spaced upwardly from said bed forremoving and servicing the type carrying disc, means holding a stencilon said main frame in a fixed relationship to the bed of said mainframe, means for holding said auxiliary frame in said fixed superposedposition over said bed during cutting of said stencil positioned betweensaid bed and selected type on the type carrying wheel, and meansactuating said means to exert a stencil cutting pressure on the stencilagainst said selected type.

5. A stencil cutter comprising, a main frame, a pair of verticallypositioned bosses secured on opposite sides of said main frame, agenerally horizontally disposed stencil cutting bed on said main framebetween said bosses, means below the plane of said bed for exerting anupward stencil cutting pressure through the plane of said bed, anauxiliary frame, hinge mounting means hingedly supporting one side ofsaid auxiliary frame on one side of said main frame so that saidauxiliary frame is manually pivotable to one position with the undersideof said auxiliary frame disposed over said bed and to a second positionwith said underside disposed upwardly away from said bed, the pivotalaxis of said hinge mounting means disposed parallel to a line betweensaid bosses, a removable type carrying disc carried through saidauxiliary frame with said type positioned to depend from the undersideof said auxiliary frame, said auxiliary frame having portions overlyingsaid bosses in said one position, said bosses being formed of a heightto engage the underside of said portions when said type is positionedsubstantially immediately above the plane of the upper surface of anystencil carried on said bed, and removable securing means carried bysaid bosses and cooperating with said portions to removably secure saidauxiliary frame relative to said main frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,763 6/1871 Moody 197--6.41,131,956 3/ 1915 Remnsnider l976.7 1,146,852 7/1915 Dick 101128.41,164,750 12/1915 Remnsnider 197--6.7 1,296,511 3/ 1919 Hasbrouck 1976.41,308,941 7/1919 Fanslow 197-6.4 1,357,090 10/ 1920 Hasbrouck 197-6.42,067,702 1/1937 Marsh l976.7 2,300,297 10/1942 Lampson 1976.4 2,324,6627/1943 Aaron 101-1284 X 2,331,978 10/ 1943 Hempel et al 197-6.7 X

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STENCIL CUTTER COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME, A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED STENCIL CUTTING BED ON SAID MAIN FRAME, AN AUXILIARY FRAME, AHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED HINGE PIN HINGEDLY MOUNTING SAID AUXILIARY FRAMEON SAID MAIN FRAME FOR SWINGING THROUGH A VERTICAL ARC, SAID AUXILIARYFRAME ARRANGED AND CONSTRUCTED IN ONE POSITION THEREOF TO LIE IN A FIXEDSUPERPOSED POSITION OVER AND ADJACENT THE BED OF THE MAIN FRAME AND INANOTHER POSITION THEREOF TO BE SPACED FROM SAID BED, SAID AUXILIARYFRAME CARRYING TYPE FOR MOVEMENT THEREON, MEANS HOLDING A STENCIL ONSAID MAIN FRAME IN A FIXED RELATIONSHIP TO THE BED OF SAID MAIN FRAME,MEANS FOR SECURELY HOLDING SAID AUXILIARY FRAME IN SAID FIXED SUPERPOSEDPOSITION OVER SAID BED DURING CUTTING OF SAID STENCIL POSITIONED BETWEENSAID BED ON THE MAIN FRAME AND SELECTED TYPE ON THE AUXILIARY FRAME, ANDMEANS ON THE MAIN FRAME SUPPLYING PRESSURE TO EFFECT A CUTTING OF SAIDSTENCIL.